Ohio grain farmers note successes, prepare for ‘perfect storm’ ahead

LIMA, Ohio — They gathered to discuss the three major grains grown in Ohio — corn, wheat and soybeans. But the 250 or so growers who attended the annual Ohio Grain Farmers Symposium Dec. 17 in Allen County were equally concerned about the livestock industry, global climate change, alternative fuels and the impact each will have on the future of grains.

Grain, livestock inseparable

Steve Kopperud, executive vice president of Washington, D.C.-based Policy Directions, said the success or failure of livestock farmers “is” the future of grain farming.

“It’s a very simple equation: Without agriculture, there is no feed industry, without a feed industry there is no need for you,” he said. “That will ripple back to you in a heartbeat. There will simply be no market for what you do.”

Melamed was the lead consultant for Issue 2 and commended Ohioans for passing it by a convincing two-thirds vote. He said there was criticism whether the issue belonged in the state’s constitution, but said it was as important as the other issues being considered.

“We felt that if the Ohio constitution could be used to create four casinos in the state of Ohio, it certainly ought to be there to be used to protect Ohio’s largest industry. It’s a $93 billion industry; that’s worth protecting in the Ohio Constitution,” he said.

The next storm

But Kopperud and Melamed both said the success of 2009 must be carried into 2010, and into other states, because new battles are surely coming.

“The coalition that was formed in Ohio is unheard of,” Kopperud said. “You have the perfect storm in Ohio. It’s time to create the perfect storm of farmer outrage across the country.”

Melamed predicted a multimillion-dollar campaign by HSUS, and an even bigger need for Ohioans to unite.

Kopperud said the organization’s leader — Wayne Pacelle — was deeply upset by his first major defeat, and also surprised.

“Based on his (Pacelle’s) success, he did not believe that Ohio could (act) as quickly, as effectively and as successfully as it did,” Kopperud said.

Taxing farmers

He also criticized recent efforts to take tested and approved, safe technology out of the reach of farmers, saying farmers are being “taxed” on what they do, and how well they do it.

He spoke critically about climate change legislation, including the market concept of cap and trade — an effort to reduce emissions by issuing permits, and requiring businesses and farmers to compete for them in order to comply with national standards.

A figure used popularly throughout the day was that cap-and-trade legislation would remove 60 million acres from crop production, with the likelihood that land would be converted to trees, or left untilled.

“That’s a scary preface,” Kopperud said with emotion. “Climate change has to stop. The legislative process has to stop now.”

Washington perspective

Addressing farm and rural policy in Washington D.C., Sara Wyant of Agri-Pulse Communications said climate change policy — currently winding through Congress as Waxman-Markey legislation — will have historical implications.

“That bill will probably have more impact on your operations than any other farm bill or piece of legislation you could ever even think of in the last (few) decades,” she said.

Of the roughly 60 million acres to exit production, Wyant figured it would start with marginal land of lesser quality, but would eventually progress to the point of reaching prime farmland. She said with world population expected to grow, 2010 and beyond will require “someone who is going to be a champion on feeding the world.”

She predicted 2010 to be “an interesting year to watch,” with the likelihood more Republicans will be elected to office in 2010.

Growing demand

Ohio State University Economist Matt Roberts said the corn market will be in greater demand in 2010, with a global need for another 500 million to 1 billion bushels to meet demand.

He said farmers have two choices, increase yield per acre or grow more acres, because prices will rise due to demand for food, and for ethanol.

The symposium also recognized retiring Ohio State University agronomist Jim Beuerlein, for a lifetime of service to the soybean industry.

Multiple legislators were recognized for their efforts to promote biofuel and bioproduct legislation, and for their support of Issue 2 and its campaign. Legislator of the Year award went to Ohio Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, a grain farmer himself.

He spoke briefly about the state’s accomplishments with Issue 2, saying farmers are “under attack” by activists.

Presentations from the all-day symposium will soon be available online, at www.ohiograinfarmerssymposium.org.

Chris Kick lives in Wooster, Ohio. An American FFA Degree recipient, he holds a bachelor’s in creative writing from Ashland University. He spends his free time on his grandparents’ farms in Wayne and Holmes counties.

1 COMMENT

This article is timely in many respects, and should be of interest to anyone who loves animals and loves to eat, whether it be vegetarian or meat based. Living on a small 14 acre farm now, raising and showing dogs, and fruit, asparagus and hay, we do feel threatened to do the things we love to do. Activists have a firm agenda, and the money to back their goals. I truly believe that farmers are not the ‘hayseeds’ that is often portrayed in the media, and with that in mind, we must show our smarts by standing firmly together, using intelligence, for ourselves and each other. Any great war was won by winning the small battles and by dividing & conquering. And this is war, make no mistake about it. Whether we agree with what our neighbor might be raising, we must be united in support of each other. We are the caretakers of our land and animals. We must be vigilant not to give activists any ammunition for them to defeat our rights to life, liberty and happiness.